42 fatalities

Aircraft Crash in Greece Kills 42 (50+63)

Chania, GreeceLanding (descent or approach)

On February 9, 1975, a Transall C-160 (registration 50+63) operated by German Air Force - Deutsche Luftwaffe was involved in an aviation accident near Chania, Greece during landing or approach. 42 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft carrying 37 German soldiers and a crew of five crashed into Mt Kukules near Chania, Greece, in poor weather, killing all 42 occupants.

Incident Overview and Route Details An aircraft departed from Hohn Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on a mission to Chania-Souda Airport in Greece. The flight was transporting 37 German soldiers and a crew of five, all of whom were scheduled to join a NATO contingency operation in Crete. The specific aircraft type and registration are not provided in the source material. ## Weather Conditions and Impact The approach to Chania Airport was initiated under poor weather conditions, which included fog and snowfall. During the descent to an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Kukules, located approximately 24 kilometers from the airport. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, resulting in the deaths of all 42 occupants on board.